GUNSHOTS RING OUT INSIDE CASCADE

Story & Photos by BRIAN WOODS
Elyria – Police are investigating a shooting that took place inside of Cascade Park early Saturday evening just feet from the park’s playground.


Witnesses to the shooting, wishing to keep their names private due to safety concerns, say they have had it with the violence. Two women who were with their young children in the playground area said they heard what they first thought were firecrackers going off. Just after the popping noises they say a man, either in his late teens or early 20’s, ran past them carrying a handgun. The man jumped into a car and drove at a high rate of speed almost striking cars entering the park while fleeing.


The registration on the car returned to a Lorain address. Lorain Police were requested to check the residence by Elyria Police but they did not find the car.


Police spoke with the man who was being shot at but he offered no information on the suspect or motive in the shooting saying that he was “no snitch.”

Police searched the area that witnesses say the shooting took place and discovered several spent shell casings on the path that leads to the bridge and waterfalls. For our older readers, the path that once lead to the old Bear’s Cave.


One of the witnesses in the park with her child said she lives on Furnace Street and likes to take her daughter to the park and play on the swings. “I’ll think twice about bringing her back down here to play again. It’s just hard finding a safe place in this city anymore.”


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SHOTS FIRED OUTSIDE OF MARDI GRAS

Elyria – Three Elyria Police Officers were parked on Depot Street facing Washington Ave around 2:45 a.m. Friday morning monitoring a large number of patrons leaving the Mardi Gras bar when they heard several gunshots ring out about 50 yards away.


Officers took cover and began retrieving their special weapons from their cars while calling over the radio, “shots fired on Depot, multiple shots fired.”


Officers saw smoke coming from the area of a Ford Explorer parked on Depot Street on the railroad side of the street. Officers detained about 10 men that were near the SUV. The men were all searched, cleared and released.


Three women were then removed from the Explorer; one told Officers she had a CCW permit and that the gun was in the glove box and unloaded. Officers found a .380 black colored handgun without a magazine in the glove box. The gun did have one live round in the chamber. A magazine was found under the driver’s seat.


Each of the women removed from the vehicle denied firing the gun.


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FIRE DESTROYS EAST AVE GARAGE

Carlisle Township – An early morning fire on East Ave in Carlisle completely destroyed a garage and the two cars parked inside.

James Schiavoni lives just 3 doors down and said he heard an explosion and jumped to see what had happened. “I ran to the window and could see the flames shooting up over the fence and way into the air. I headed down there to see if I could help and people were saying there might be people and animals still inside the house.”

Schiavoni and others began pounding on the doors in an attempt to wake anyone in the house. “We kept pounding and we could see a woman’s purse inside on the table so we really thought someone was inside so I kicked the door in and we searched the house but nobody was inside.” They did find a dog and took it to the neighbors for safe keeping.

Carlisle Township Firefighters arrived and found the structure fully involved in flames according to Chief Kevin Dembiec. Firefighters began dumping water on the blaze but then turned their attention to the home until additional help arrived. Mutual Aid was provided by Elyria, Eaton Township and Oberlin Fire Departments.


There were no injuries reported at the scene. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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FIRE RIPS THROUGH CLINTON AVE HOME

Story & Photos by BRIAN WOODS
Elyria – One woman was left without out on the street after a fire destroyed part of the Clinton Ave home that she had been renting.


Elyria Firefighters responded to the call just before 6 p.m. Monday night and were able to extinguish the blaze within 15 minutes. Crews then performed overhaul and began searching for the source of the blaze.


Fire Officials say the fire started in the living room and was possible electrical. Total damage estimates are near $100,000.00.


The occupant will be taken in by relatives for the time being.


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THE WORST TIME FOR A POWER OUTAGE

Story & Photos by BRIAN WOODS
Elyria Township – With the heat index above 100 degrees Thursday afternoon and thousands huddling around fans and air conditioners the worst happened – a power outage affecting nearly 5,000 Ohio Edison customers.
Officials say a transformer on Griswold Road overheated and failed. Elyria Township Firefighters were called to the Ohio Edison Griswold Road Sub Station to pour water on the unit to help prevent a fire or explosion.
South Amherst and Carlisle Township Fire Departments provided mutual aid with tanker trucks at the scene.
Temps will remain in the 90’s this weekend with the heat index possibly hitting 100 again Friday.

LORAIN MAN SHOT AND KILLED ON PEARL

Lorain – A Lorain man was shot in the head outside of Southerner’s Bar on Pearl Ave Wednesday night just before 10:30 p.m. – 22 year old Moises Velez fell dead on the sidewalk from the wound.
LifeCare Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced Velez dead at the scene.
Lorain Police sealed off the area and conducted an investigation into the shooting with hundreds of neighbors standing in street corners and in parking lots watching.

Police do not yet have a motive in the shooting but say it might be connected to a March shooting on Kerstetter Way in Elyria where Velez was charged with Felonious Assault, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and a slew of other charges. SEE THAT STORY HERE

The investigation into the shooting continues. If anyone has information about the shooting they are asked to call the Lorain Police Department.
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COOLING STATION OPENING IN ELYRIA THURSDAY

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a HEAT ADVISORY for across the region Thursday.

Oppressive heat and humidity will remain across the region on Thursday with temps in the middle and upper 90’s. Hot temps combined with very high humidity levels will produce heat index values of 105 to 110 degrees from late morning into Thursday evening. This prolonged period of dangerously high heat and humidity will pose a significant risk of heat illness.

During this advisory period people are asked to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of fluids.


ELYRIA OPENING COOLING STATION
Tom Kelley, Director of Lorain County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said the Cooling Stations plans have been in place since the late 90’s and this is the first time it will be used. “We sent out a reminder to Officials county-wide this morning advising them of the extreme heat conditions tomorrow and of the Cooling Station option. Mayor Grace contacted the Elyria Health District and asked if Elyria could have a station opened tomorrow.”

Kelley said the Cooling Station will be at South Recreation Center and will be opened from 8:00 a.m. until 6 p.m. “We will have staff on site just in case additional resources are needed and members of the Lorain County Chapter of the American Red Cross will be at the station passing out ice water and helping care for those in need.”

Carlisle Township – Five kids were injured after a single car roll over crash on Indian Hollow Road near Slife Road Sunday night in Carlisle Township.

The 16 year old driver of a Cobalt said he was south on Indian Hollow Road when he saw a black car back up onto Indian Hollow from Slife right into his path. The teen driver swerved to miss the car and went off the left side of the road. Witnesses say as he corrected and brought the car back onto the road and that is when they say the car go air born about 10 feet into the air before rolling and then landing in a field on the right side of the road.

Witnesses say they rushed to the car and found the kids trying to free themselves from their seatbelts to get out of the car. One witness was on a motorcycle behind the Cobalt and said he saw the black car back up into the path of the teen. He said the teen had two choices, hit the car or swerve to miss her.

Carlisle Township Firefighters and LifeCare Paramedics treated all five occupants and transported them to Elyria Memorial Hospital. None of the victims received serious injuries.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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KERSTETTER 5K 2011 A SUCCESS

Elyria – It was one week ago that nearly 1,000 people gathered on Kerstetter Way in Elyria to participate in the 2nd Annual James A. Kerstetter 5K Run / Family Walk.

Organizers were happy to see so many people come together for the event that honors fallen Elyria Police Officer Jimmy Kerstetter. Runners came from as far away as Chicago, Washington and North Carolina. Around Ohio runners traveled to Kerstetter Way from Stow, Solon, Mentor, Fremont, Lyndhurst and Wellington.

Although the field was doubled two familiar faces received the Top Overall trophies for the male and female – Tyler Kvach of Avon crossed the finish line in 16:14, just slightly ahead of last year’s time of 16:39. Alexa Rick of Elyria crossed the finish line at 19:26 shaving off 11 seconds of last year’s time.
To see COMPLETE RACE RESULTS visit www.kerstetter5k.com and click on past events.

Special thanks to our friends at Calibr Web Design for posting the Race Results and photo gallery for everyone to review.

To keep up to date with the K5K join the facebook page today. Announcements and new photos are posted there first.

We would also like to thank our Photographers, BRIAN WOODS, BRUCE BISHOP and MATT HARTMAN for all waking up very early on a Saturday morning and doing such great work for us. The best part was all three Photographers agreed to allow the participants to download their photos at no charge. Many 5K events will have a photo page posted and sell to their participants to make a little extra cash. Woods, Bishop and Hartman all agreed with the organizers to let the participants have the memories for no charge. COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY

Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub and Time Warner Cable, two of our top sponsors also stepped up and gave away free bananas, apples, power bars and other goodies after the race. Great Lakes Church provided free cotton candy and time in the jump house for the kids while the runners were still on the field. Corey Blaz and Matt McLaughlin of MC SOUND DJ SERVICE donated their time and provided great music for the event as well.

Jim Kerstetter gave back to the community throughout his entire life – military career, time with the Sheriff’s Department Auxiliary and the numerous kindnesses he offered as a Police Officer that were never noted publically. Jim didn’t join the service to be recognized, he wasn’t an Auxiliary to get into the newspaper and he didn’t become a Police Officer to win awards, pins or get a pat on the back. He did these things because it was the right thing to do and because he believed in the community and giving back. We are proud of the sponsors, staff and volunteers that we have assembled for the Kerstetter 5K because they too have that belief in giving back. As you look through the photo galleries and you see the people wearing K5K shirts and staff badges know that not one of them were paid anything but the shirt on their backs. The shirts and some free food during the event and if you knew Jimmy you know he would be smiling ear to ear about that one.

One more thing that I’m positive Jim was smiling about. At the end of the race the final runner was making her way down Kerstetter Way. She was struggling but saw that the end was near. As she made her way under the railroad overpass several Elyria Police Officers who had already finished the race spotted her and one by one surrounded her and escorted and cheered her onto the finish line. An amazing and memorable end to a great race.

We will see you all next year, Saturday July 14, 2012, along Kerstetter Way. Next year let’s say we double the numbers again!

FOUR INJURED IN ROLL OVER CRASH

Story & Photos by BRIAN WOODS
Sheffield Village – Four people were transported to local hospitals after a car crashed into the pickup they were riding in on Detroit Road in Sheffield Village on Tuesday.
Police say a Chevy Cobalt made an illegal left turn from a private drive onto Detroit Road and collided with a Ford Ranger pickup truck. The Cobalt struck the passenger side rear of the truck tossing it over onto its roof.
Sheffield Village Paramedics treated and transported all four occupants of the pickup for non life threatening injuries.
Avon Fire Department Paramedics assisted Sheffield Village with treating the victims.
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HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WOMAN?

On Friday, July 8th, the woman in the photo took a wallet from an elderly woman at the Avon WalMart. The suspect then made a fraudulent purchase on the victim’s credit card totaling over $1,200.00 at the Target store in Elyria.

ANYONE with information regarding the identity of the woman in the photo is asked to call the Avon Police Department at 440.934.1234.